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bestPGHparish.org bestPGHparish.org bestPGHparish.org bestPGHparish.org 28 JUNE 2020 THE PARISHES OF SACRED HEART & SAINT RAPHAEL
bestPGHparish.org
bestPGHparish.org
bestPGHparish.org
bestPGHparish.org
28 JUNE 2020
THE PARISHES OF SACRED HEART & SAINT RAPHAEL
Diocese Victim Assistance Abuse Hotline: 1-888-808-1235
SACRED HEART ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
325 Emerson Street • Pittsburgh, PA 15206
Phone 412-441-1582
Fax 412-441-2798
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sacredheartpgh.org
Rev. Joseph Mele, Administrator Sacred Heart 412-661-0187 ext. 122 Saint Raphael 412-661-3100 ext. 124
Rev. John Sweeney, Sr. Parochial Vicar 412-661-3100 ext. 128 or [email protected]
Rev. Steve Palsa, Parish Chaplain 412-720-3554 [email protected] Faith Formation: [email protected]
Dr. William Hahn, Deacon 412-661-3100 ext. 114 [email protected]
Mr. John Vaskov, Deacon 412-661-0187 ext. 117 [email protected]
Sean Farrell 412-661-0187 ext. 127 [email protected]
Administrative Assistant Emily Pino 412-661-0187 ext. 111 [email protected]
Business Manager Michael McGrath 412-661-0187 ext. 118 [email protected]
Director of Music Ministries John Ronald “JR” Daniels 412-661-0187 ext. 226 [email protected]
Evangelization & Outreach Jack Shaw 412-508-5383 [email protected]
Secretary Sacred Heart Manon Proulx 412-661-0187 ext. 110 [email protected]
Secretary Saint Raphael Barb Melick 412-661-3100 ext 110 [email protected]
Assistant Music Minister Darlene Kiniry [email protected]
Part time Ministry to the Bereaved Sister Mary Elizabeth Schrei, SC [email protected]
Office Staff Gregory Caridi 412-661-0187 ext. 113 [email protected]
Safe Environment Coordinator Pam Matia [email protected]
Bulletin Editor Manon Proulx 412-661-0187 ext. 110 [email protected]
Saint Vincent de Paul Society 412-404-3524
SACRED HEART SAINT RAPHAEL
310 Shady Ave. 1118 Chislett St. Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Parish Office: 412-661-0187 Parish Office: 412-661-3100 Fax: 412-661-7932 Fax: 412-661-0428 [email protected] [email protected]
Office Hours: Weekdays Offices currently closed
Website: bestpghparish.org
Principal: Mrs. Kate Taylor
My Dear Parishioners,
This coming week we celebrate the Fourth of July. How shall we celebrate the national anni-versary of American Independence this year? As your pastoral administrator and hopefully soon to be your pastor, I hope it is a day of fun and summer enjoyment for everyone. I presume everyone will make the best of the holiday with your loved ones, friends, and neighbors even though we must carry out the necessary precautions that we are being asked to observe carefully during this serious pan-demic. At the same time, I want to entrust for your consideration that we all spend some time prayer-fully reflecting on the past several weeks and what has happened in light of the tragic death of George Floyd and the national protests. Certainly, the words of Scripture provide us with the greatest source for reflection and prayer on this Fourth of July. At the same time, American history can help us to think long and hard about the Freedom we celebrate. I think of these words by Frederick Douglas on July 5, 1852 at Rochester, New York, when he gave the famous speak: The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro. I know they will be quoted everywhere this year.
Mr. President, Friends and Fellow Citizens: “Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, pros-perity, and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not me. The sunlight that brought light and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth of July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn…. I hear the wail of millions whose chains, heavy and grievous yesterday, are today, rendered more intolerable by the jubilee shouts that reach them.”
I invite you to join all our parishioners who want to pray this Fourth of July for peace in our beloved land and in thanks for our American freedom but also to reflect to-gether on the meaning of July Fourth for us this year. We will celebrate only one Mass in our group-ing in observance of Independence Day. The theme of the homily will be “Freedom, Yes but Whose Freedom?“ The Mass will be offered at 9:30 AM in Sacred Heart Church. If you are not at risk, I hope you will attend the Mass. We will maintain safe distancing as well wear masks. The church will, of course, be sanitized. Thank you for considering this invitation. On behalf of Father John, Father Steve, Sister Mary Elizabeth, Deacon John and Suzan, Deacon Bill and April and Sean Farrell, our seminarian, we prayerfully wish you and your family a very happy Fourth of July. God bless you and our beautiful country!
Please note that Mass will be offered on July 4th at 4:00 PM at Saint Raphael and at 4:30 PM at Sa-cred Heart as usual but these Masses will be the Mass of the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time.
HAPPENING IN OUR GROUPING 2
3 HAPPENING IN OUR GROUPING
In this Bulletin, you can read: Fourth of July ..................................................... 2 Something to think about ................................. 3 Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults .......... 3 Prayers for Father John ................................... 3 On Mission for the Church Alive ..................... 4
Mary’s Mantle of Consecration ........................ 6 Financials .............................................................. 7 Invitation to RCIA .............................................. 8 Confessions ........................................................... 8 Mass Schedule ..................................................... 9
RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITATION FOR ADULTS
With joy, St. Raphael and Sacred Heart Parishes will celebrate today, at the 11:00 Mass at St. Raphael Church, the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults - for four individuals. They had been preparing each week for many months in the RCIA process and were to celebrate the Sacraments with us at the Easter Vigil. But, unfortunately, the virus restrictions stopped the process and the Easter celebration as well. But we praise God that now we are able to welcome these four of our brothers and sisters to the Sac-raments of the Catholic Church. Three individuals will be baptized into the life of Jesus Christ: Ann Co-hen- Wilson, Max Grandelis, and Kim Witkowsky Then John Wilson, Ann’s husband, who is already baptized as a Chris-tian, will be received into the Catholic Church. Then all four will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation, and then re-ceive their First Communion - the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ - with us at the Eucharist. It has been a blessing to have come to know these four individuals over the past months and to share this process with them. We thank them for their patience these past few months, as they waited to receive their Sacraments. We will be blessed as well to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation with another individual, Jessica Mancuso (no photo available), who is Catholic and a member of our Parish. She will also be Con-firmed at the Mass. We also look forward to the baptism of Cooper Wilson, John and Ann’s daughter, who is a student at Sacred Hearts Elementary School, who will be baptized soon as well. Again, with joy we welcome our brothers and sisters into the Catholic Church. If you see them around – be sure to extend that welcome to them as well. We will begin a new RCIA process this Fall. If you think of someone who you think may be inter-ested into looking into being a member of the Catholic Church, extend an invitation to them to call the Parish Office. Fr. John Sweeney
Ann & John Wilson Max Grandelis Kim Witkowski
PRAYERS for Father John ...as this coming week, Father John will undergo needed heart surgery for the repair of a heart valve. (he wanted to follow in the esteemed footsteps of Deacon Bill Hahn!) Please pray for suc-cessful surgery and recovery after that. He hopes to see everyone very soon!
Something to think about “First, many people are unable to distinguish between supporting professional and fair-minded police officers and criticizing a broken and unjust system of police practices and training. Yes, we can and must support those who heroically perform the difficult profession of public safety. But we also need to be critical of policing that subjects citizens of color to surveillance, interrogation, arrest, and abuse that would be considered intolerable if routinely experienced by white
people.” - Father Bryan Massingale
Father Massingale is a professor of theological and social ethics at Fordham University. We hope to invite him to speak at our Grouping.
ON MISSION FOR THE CHURCH ALIVE! 4
As we keep moving forward with the Merger of our two parish-es, my staff and many others have asked me for my vision of the new parish. For everyone that understands the importance of a leader shar-ing his or her hopes and dreams for an organization, you know that the leader’s vision changes as the leader seeks input and feedback. This weekend and next, I want to ask you to pray over and study my thoughts about my vision for our new parish. I am very excited about all that we can become. This vision statement is a work in progress. The same page will be repeated for the next two weeks since people do not regularly take a bulletin or read it every week. It has become a hit and miss process in every parish. Thank you for your interest and feedback. I always appreciate your insights and keen sugges-tions. I love receiving them!
VISION 2021 – 2025: HEARTS ON FIRE FOR CHRIST AND HIS GOSPEL MY PERSONAL VISION FOR THE NEW PARISH
I envision a joyful and powerful renewal of holiness after we merge to become one parish with all our parishioners walking in the ways and teachings of Jesus the way the apostles did (apostolic life). I see each of our priests and all parishioners seeking and committing to a personal, deep, and sustained communion with the Trinity and with each other for the sake of building the Kingdom of God in our area and reaching together our ultimate goal; eternal life in Christ.
MY PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT FOR THE PARISH In unity and collaboration with the true, exciting spirit of On Mission for the Church Alive, we will form and equip intentional disciples of every age and accompany them in their on-going conversion and spiritual growth, so they can more effectively and energetically lead others to Christ and to em-brace and live the Gospel virtues.
PARISH GOALS Realizing that there should never be more than 3 – 5 goals for a 4 – 5 years strategic plan, the follow-ing are submitted to merely get minds and hearts imagining. These are simply my personal thoughts.
• Affirm the importance of all our current programs and activities and the noble history of both parishes that inspired them.
• Expand our mission to help parishioners to have “hearts on fire for Christ” and pass on that fire for Christ in a sustainable way. I. Initiate the Evangelization Formation Program: Preambular. Details to follow. II. Design a Plan for consistent Vibrant Sunday Liturgies that honors diversity and local talent! III. Conduct a Parish Revival Mission preached by a dynamic team of Catholic evangelists and
other spiritual leaders during Lent 2021. IV. Establish Family Catechesis within the first year of the new parish. V. Establish an Early Childhood Development Center at Saint Raphael Campus within 2 years. VI. Add Ministries of Outreach within the next 4-5 years. VII. Create Alliances with Ecumenical and Community Agencies within the next 4-5 years. VIII.Re-start Neighborhood Food Bank within the first year of the new parish. IX. Other
• Embracing Biblical Stewardship and Giving in all its forms as a way of Catholic life.
REMARKS If we are to revitalize the Church in our given time, we need to provide greater support to young fami-lies, especially those families with small children. Young families have a very special need to be accompanied to full and active community in this parish.
The Vision also affirms the value of Adult Formation and Catechetical Ministry, calling for an expan-sion of these programs in time.
5 HAPPENING IN OUR GROUPING
First Communion
What beautiful celebrations we had for the last 2 weeks. Three groups of children, dressed like princes and princesses, walked the aisles with so much joy for receiv-
ing their First Communion. The children were so happy and the families even more pleased. All in all, it was very lovely, thanks first and foremost to Fr. Steve who collaborated with Kate Taylor and JR Daniels. They did incredible work in
preparing the children for this solemn and sacred moment. Thank you also to April Hahn, Erica Acklin, Michael Steich, Marta Pecina., Arianna Narduzzi, Christina Narduzzio, Isabel Volpe, Sofia Volpe and all who worked behind the scenes to
help our celebrations be a beautiful experience of God’s infinite love and care.
Parish-Wide mailing: Thank you!
Thanks to our office staff and a large number of volunteers, we were able to mail our letter to every household in the Grouping. Special thanks to Jack
Shaw and to Mike Romito for an incredible job of recruiting the volunteers. Jack Shaw rounded up a group of parishioners, and Mike gathered our Young Adults. We would like to extend a big THANK YOU to Todd Ernst, David, John and Joey Evans,
John Girata, Betty Hanigan, Bernie Kozlowski, Regina and Denny McManus, Heather and Walker Mulley, Ginny Norkus, Diane and Chuck Schieb, Vicki Sheridan, Marielle Snyder, Emily Solan, Sr.
Mary Elizabeth and Joe and Christine Wingenfeld. You all worked for hours and assisted in getting our
mailing out this week! Special mention needs to be made to the students who helped: John and Joey Ev-
ans. Nearly 5,000 envelopes were mailed first class.
Financial Stewardship Update As you have heard several times throughout these unusual “COVID-19” times, thanks to God and thanks to the generosity of our parishioners we have been blessed in our two parishes in that we have been able to maintain our staff and to keep-up with our financial responsibilities. Again, your generosity is overwhelming, and we thank all those who have been using Faith Direct and/or mailing or hand-delivering their offertory contributions to our respective parish offices.
At this time, we thought it might be a good time to remind you of the following, to the extent possible:
* please send your envelope(s) along with your check(s) * whenever you are contributing to a special (Diocesan) collection or to PSP, please include a separate check or cash in each envelope * if you send a check from your financial institution directly to the parish, please be sure to include your envelope number on the check (you would enter the envelope number where they ask for you “account number”) * please do not tape or staple your envelope or its contents
If you are able to follow these suggestions, you will immensely help our parish staff and our wonderful volunteers who process our collections.
HAPPENING IN OUR GROUPING 6
Mary’s Mantle of Consecration: A 46 Day Spiritual Retreat with Mary
This Spiritual Retreat with Mary is for families and people with busy sched-ules in which you can participate from the convenience of your own home.
The 46 days corresponds with the 46 stars on Mary’s mantle or cloak from the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Each star represents a spiritual virtue such as: Thanksgiving, Hope, Faith, Detachment, etc. There is an inspirational reflection for each of the 46 days.
This Spiritual Retreat will begin on July 1st and end with the Feast of the Assumption on August 15th. For your part, you are asked to:
Pray the Rosary anytime during each of the 46 days Fast one day a week. (Give up meat on Fridays, or soda on Tuesday,
etc.) Contemplate & Reflect on each of the daily Virtues and Seven Gifts
of the Holy Spirit.
To register for this program and receive daily reflections for the 46 days email: Jack Shaw at: [email protected]
Recent Blood Drive
We would like to share with you the beautiful letter we’ve received from Vitalant after the great success of our Blood Drive. We are always happy to help for a
good cause!!
Please note that the offices are going to be closed,
Friday, July 3rd for Independence Day.
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Thank you for your exceptional generosity!
Saint Raphael June 13 - June 21, 2020 Sacred Heart
Env. Count Env. Count
$8,303.00 177 Sunday Offertory 90 $10,073.50
$156.00 Loose Cash / Checks $519.00
$2,646.00 PSP 12 $875.00
$27.00 4 Ascension Thursday Offertory 2 $100.00
$30.00 1 Easter Offertory 2 $45.00
- - Good Friday/Holy Land Collection 1 $10.00
- - Campaign for Human Development 1 $5.00
$2.00 2 Catholic Relief Services Collection 2 $10.00
$53.00 5 Peter’s Pence Collection 3 $75.00
Parish Share Program
$43,448.00 May 31, 2020 (Year-to-Date) $144,341.00 $98,136.00 Goal $102,268.00
Faith Direct - May
$9,498.73 Net Deposit
(Total contributions minus Faith Direct & bank fees)
$28,603.97
Pittsburgh Pax Christi is working with folks from St. Benedict the Moor to plan a prayer vigil for next Sunday at Freedom Corner in support of Black Lives Matter. Maybe you would like to come! Newly ordained Fr. Hawkins and Fr. David Taylor will be there lead-ing the prayers.
Pax Christi is a Catholic Christian peace movement. The Pax Christi International web-site declares its mission is "to transform a world shaken by violence, terrorism, deepening inequalities, and global insecurity."
HOPE – For People Unemployed or Underemployed. Because a number of people may have lost employ-ment due to the coronavirus and extended quaran-tine; we are considering offering a HOPE Ministry Support Group at Saint Raphael/Sacred Heart Parish Grouping for July and August. This program for those seeking employment would offer: weekly meetings; updating resumes; job-interview prep; networking. If there is anyone in need of assistance with their job-search have them contact Jack Shaw at 412-508-5383 or [email protected]
HAPPENING IN OUR GROUPING 8
SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY The Diocese requires a 6-month preparation period; a pre-marriage course is also required for each couple.
Sacred Heart: Call the parish office to speak with a priest. St. Raphael: Call the parish office to speak with a priest.
SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM
(25 people maximum, one baptism at the time)
For information or appointment, please call Barb Melick at 412-661-3100 ext 110.
Note that a baptism preparation program is required for parents who are presenting their first child for baptism.
ANOINTING OF THE SICK For those seriously ill, preparing for surgery, or the
elderly. Please call Fr. Steven Palsa - Parish Chaplain 412-720-3554
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION NEW TIME: Saturday, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.
Priests and penitents are asked to wear a mask. Priest is 6 feet away from the penitent. St. Raphael: Up front and center near the communion rail the following are in place:
A Screen and a chair for the priest A floor marking for a person wanting face to face confession [no chair] A floor marking for a person wanting to be anonymous
People waiting would stay behind the glass doors at the vestibule with 6 foot spacing Sacred Heart: The vestibule of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel would be the location. The following are in place:
A Screen and a chair for the priest A floor marking for a person wanting face to face confession [no chair] A floor marking for a person wanting to be anonymous
ADORATION AT SAINT RAPHAEL Every Wednesday
You are invited to come to Adoration with the following schedule:
1:00PM to 6:00PM Adoration 6:00PM Benediction
7:00PM Mass 7:30PM Confession
Invitation to RCIA: The RCIA [the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults] process for
our St Raphael – Sacred Heart grouping will begin again in September. People who are not yet baptized and those who have been baptized in another faith community are invited to a journey of prayerful dis-cernment leading to full membership in the Catholic Church.
Please contact Father John Sweeney at 412-661-3100 to set up a time to meet with him for an initial introduction. Weekly sessions will begin after Labor Day. Be part of the “new evangelization!” Invite a friend, neighbor or family member to take part and ex-plore our faith!
All are welcome!
Welcome to our New Parishioners
• Danielle Ecker • Ann Barrows • Talia Scherer • Danielle Millett & John Migliozzi • Angela Wagner • Lauren Kolarik
Congratulations to Christopher Ogurchak & Laura Awadalla and Sirus Sukanich &
Elizabeth Huddleston on your joyous occasion. Let’s pray for these couples for a
happy life together!
Divorced, Widowed, Separated? The loss of a spouse through death, divorce, or separation is a traumatic experience. The Beginning Experience© Pittsburgh Lay Apostolate will host a 1-day Saturday seminar, Coping with Life Alone-In the Beginning Program, intended to help widowed, divorced, or separated men and women pass through the grief and pain and begin to move forward with renewed hope on their life journey. Please plan to join us on 11 July 2020 from 8:45am – 4:00pm. Fee is $25.00. Location: Martina Spiritual Renewal Center, 5244 Clarwin Avenue, West View, PA 15229. Register by July 6th at www.BeginningExperiencePittsburgh.com or calling Rob at 412-584-5575 or Mary at 412-523-2405.
Congratulations to the family of Rowan Claire Mulvaney
who was recently baptized! May God bless family and friends as they
share faith over the years!
9 MASS SCHEDULE
SAINT RAPHAEL CHURCH 1154 CHISLETT ST.
PITTSBURGH, PA 15206
SACRED HEART CHURCH 310 SHADY AVE.
PITTSBURGH, PA 15206
Saturday, June 27 - Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
4:00PM SR Julia and Louis DiNardo by Claudia DiNardo 4:30PM SH Catherine Guay by Nellie Mannion
Sunday, June 28 - Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 9:00AM SR For the People 9:00AM SH William Brian Mullinix by Patrick Brannigan 11:00AM SR Bill and Annette Balsamico and Dr. Angelo
Runco by Peggy and Rick Spangler 11:30AM SH Sr. Mary O’Toole and Sr. Francis Xavier
O’Neill
Monday, June 29 - Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles 9:00AM SR Antonino and Candida Castellano by Candida
Castellano 12:05PM SH Mary and Paul Lydon (Living) by Nellie
Mannion Tuesday, June 30 – The First Martyrs of the Holy Ro-
man Church 9:00AM SR Mary Grace Lamperski by Parish Family 12:05PM SH Richard McCormick by Daughter, Juanita
Walicki
Wednesday, July 1 – Saint Junipero Serra, Priest 12:05PM SH Dolly Haky by Steven and Susan 7:00PM SR Kenneth Besterman by Janet Besterman Thursday, July 2 - Weekday 9:00AM SR Eugene Valenty by Helen and Marian Golob 12:05PM SH Temporal and Spiritual Well Being of Walt
and Gloria Kortz Friday, July 3 - Saint Thomas, Apostle 9:00AM SR In Honor of St. Anthony by Candida Castella-
no 12:05PM SH Elizabeth Bender by friend
Saturday, July 4 - Weekday 4:00PM SR Robert Walicki by Wife, Juanita Walicki 4:30PM SH William Nickeo by Nellie Mannion
Sunday, July 5 - Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time 9:00AM SR Mary Runco by Guy Runco 9:00AM SH Bertha Deisel by Suzan and John Voskov 11:00AM SR Anna and Nicola Greco by Rose and Antonio
DiStilo and Family 11:30AM SH For the People of the Parish
Readings for the week of June 28, 2020
Sunday: 2 Kgs 4:8-11, 14-16a/Ps 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19 [2a]/Rom 6:3-4, 8-11/Mt 10:37-42
Monday: Acts 12:1-11/Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 [5b]/2 Tm 4:6-8, 17-18/Mt 16:13-19
Tuesday: Am 3:1-8; 4:11-12/Ps 5:4b-6a, 6b-7, 8 [9a]/Mt 8:23-27
Wednesday: Am 5:14-15, 21-24/Ps 50:7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 16bc-17 [23b]/Mt 8:28-34
Thursday: Am 7:10-17/Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 [10cd]/Mt 9:1-8
Friday: Eph 2:19-22/Ps 117:1bc, 2 [Mk 16:15]/Jn 20:24-29
Saturday: Am 9:11-15/Ps 85:9ab and 10, 11-12, 13-14 [cf. 9b]/Mt 9:14-17
Sanctuary Candles - June 28 to July 4
Saint Raphael Danny and Carl Coluccio by Sister, Chris
Please pray for our recently deceased and their beloved families
Joseph Kissane
Memorial Mass to Eleanor Pellegrino who passed
away during the lockdown
If you need to schedule a Mass Intention, please call Barb at 412-661-3100
Each weekday Mass that is concelebrated by our priests can have up to three Mass intentions (one for each priest to offer). If you take a look at our Mass inten-tions list for the week, you will notice that we have many openings since no day
this week has three intentions. While we work on pinpointing our new Mass schedule, we realize that scheduling Sunday Masses may be a bit trickier at this
time, but many weekday Masses are still available. Please contact Barb at 412-661-3100, ext. 110 if you wish to schedule a Mass intention.
SAFE ENVIRONMENT REMINDER
Anyone who volunteers in the school or with the parish ministries is REQUIRED
by the diocese to be compliant with all Safe Environment clearances. If you have
not registered on the Diocesan database you may do so by visiting
www.diopitt.org and following the links. Thank you for your service to the parish!
